A Beloved Classic

The New York Times called it “A whale of yarn! Crammed with adventure …lavish … sumptuous” (“The Scarlet Pimpernel”)! In November of 1982, the swashbuckling classic tale The Scarlet Pimpernel came to life on the screen, filled with blissful romance, assumed identities, and enthralling adventures. Based on the novels The Scarlet Pimpernel and Eldorado by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, this film adaptation tells the story of Sir Percy Blakeney, an English nobleman and master of disguise, who bears an infamous identity: The Scarlet Pimpernel. While conducting his heroic escapades in rescuing victims of the French Revolution, Sir Percy Blakeney falls madly in love with the beautiful Marguerite St. Just, who is also being pursued by the villainous Paul Chauvelin, the Chief Agent for the Committee of National Security. Directed by Clive Donner, The Scarlet Pimpernel features an intriguing cast wearing extravagant costumes, filmed at some of the most monumental sites in England. This film has the ability to appeal to a large audience, making it a production that anyone is sure to enjoy.

The cast of The Scarlet Pimpernel was perfectly selected. Casting director Rose Tobias Shaw was careful in choosing three convincing actors to play the leading roles in the film. Golden Globe award-winning actor, Anthony Andrews, plays the part of Sir Percy Blakeney, the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel. Andrews was genius in making flawless transitions between his different characters, disguises, and dialects. In one scene he may be dressed as an English fop and play the part of a fool (to conceal his true identity) with lazy eyelids, a drawly accent, and poor humor. In the next scene, he may be disguised as a dirty, old Jew with a hunchback, torn clothes,...

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...for a Limited Series or Special” (“The Scarlet Pimpernel”). Astonishingly enough, the film only took six weeks to produce (IMDb). While that may seem like an insufficient amount of time to successfully produce a two-hour film, the quality of this film suggests otherwise. Not only does it feature an outstanding cast, extravagant costumes, and breathtaking scenery, but it also manages to engage audience of all ages and preferences. The Scarlet Pimpernel is dazzling and utterly irresistible adventure that is sure to capture the hearts of viewers across the globe.

Works Cited

IMDb.com, Inc. "The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982) (TV)." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb).

Web. 26 July 2010. .

The Scarlet Pimpernel. Dir. Clive Donner. Perf. Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, and Ian

McKellen. Image Entertainment, Inc., 1982. DVD.